BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

for an allocation of U.S.-China frequencies 

(Detroit-Beijing and Tokyo-Guangzhou)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0285 

REPLY OF WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY 

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

 

Genelle M. Allen 

 Interim Chief Executive Officer 

 genelle.allen@wcaa.us 

Emily Neuberger 

 Senior Vice President and General Couns

 Emily.neuberger@wcaa.us 

Joe M. Cambron 

 Director, Air Service Development 

 joe.cambron@wcaa.us 

 

WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY 

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) 

L.C. Smith Terminal, Mezzanine 

Detroit, Michigan 48242 USA 

November 19, 2010 
BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

for an allocation of U.S.-China frequencies 

(Detroit-Beijing and Tokyo-Guangzhou) 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0285 

REPLY OF WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY 

The Wayne County Airport Authority (“WCAA”) hereby replies in strong 

support of Delta’s Application for U.S.-China frequencies for new five-timesper-week Detroit-Beijing nonstop service, beginning in July 2011. 

WCAA is thrilled by Delta’s plans to add new nonstop service to 

Beijing. This new service will further build on Detroit’s rapidly growing 

position as the leading Eastern U.S. gateway to Asia. Beijing will become 

Detroit’s seventh nonstop destination in Asia, joining Shanghai, Tokyo 

Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Nagoya. 

Strong business ties between Detroit and China, coupled with Delta’s 

addition of new service, already have resulted in tremendous growth in the 

Detroit to China local market. According to Sabre MIDT data for the year 

ended 3Q2010, Shanghai is now Detroit’s top Asian market based upon 

passenger volume. Rapid traffic growth and constrained seat capacity has 

led to the need for additional service to China from Detroit. 
Reply of WCAA

Page 2

During the General Motors Initial Public Offering last week, analysts 

framed the stock offering as a “China play” because Detroit-based GM is so 

heavily invested in the China market. These growing trade ties have resulted 

in 35% growth in the Detroit-China market in just the last 12 months 

according to Sabre MIDT, making China the largest Pacific Rim market from 

Detroit. Increasing the ease of business ties between Detroit and China is 

critical to Detroit’s continued economic revival. 

GM does not even represent the majority of economic opportunities 

that improved China access is bringing to Detroit. On November 16th, 2010 

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announced a Chinese manufacturer 

will open a research and development center early next year in Plymouth, a 

Detroit suburb just north of Detroit Metro Airport. The investment by 

ChangAn Automotive will bring 100 engineering jobs and put the company 

closer to Ford Motor Company, one of its clients. ChangAn Automotive is one 

of China's largest automotive companies with revenues topping $4billion. 

Delta’s new service and further expansion will provide important 

benefits to the Detroit metro area, creating even more jobs and supporting 

increased economic activity. In addition, Detroit’s ideal upper Midwest 

location will enable convenient connections to Beijing from the entire Eastern 

U.S. Delta will offer connecting service to Beijing via Detroit from more than 

100 U.S. cities. 

Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal offers state-of-the-art 

customer conveniences including an in-terminal passenger train to ease 

movement within the facility for passengers with tight connections. The 
Reply of WCAA

Page 3

McNamara Terminal opened in 2002, and was joined by the new North 

Terminal at DTW in 2008. DTW has vaulted to the upper echelon of American 

airports, and has been well reviewed by both passengers and the pundits. In 

February 2010, Detroit Metro Airport was recognized as the #1 large airport 

in the United States for overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & 

Associates. 

WHEREFORE, WCAA respectfully requests that the DOT grant Delta’s 

application for U.S.-China frequencies for Detroit-Beijing service. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Genelle M. Allen 

Interim CEO, Wayne County Airport 

Authority
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

A copy of the foregoing document has been served this 19th day of 

November, 2010, upon the following persons via email: 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

jeff.morgan@delta.com 

carl.nelson@aa.com 

dan.weiss@coair.com 

hershel.kamen@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com 

steve.morrissey@united.com 

howard.kass@usairways.com 

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com 

nssparks@fedex.com 

gbleopard@fedex.com 

dfisher@kelleydrye.com 

esauer@ssd.com 

rpommer@atlasair.com 

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com 

paul.gretch@dot.gov 

keith.glatz@dot.gov 

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov 

UrsKR@state.gov 

info@airlineinfo.com